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- Tradition
Islam permeates every aspect of life in Saudi Arabia. The country holds the birthplace of the prophet Muhammad, and two of the holiest mosques of Islam -- Makkah (Mecca) and Medina. Islam is the official religion, and public observance of any other faith is strictly forbidden. Shari'a (Islamic law), provides the country's legal foundation, and to be a citizen one must also be a Muslim. The majority of Saudi citizens are Sunni Muslims, predominantly adhering to the strict interpretation of Islam taught by the Wahhabi movement. The country's religious police, known as Mutawwa, enforce the conservative norms for Wahhabi public behavior such as modesty in women's appearance, male attendance at public prayer, and prohibitions on playing music, smoking, and drinking alcohol. Road-Side Mosque, Central Region Credit: Wendy Cocker
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- Reform
Crown Prince Abdullah, widely recognized as the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, began running the country's daily affairs after his half brother, King Fahd, suffered a debilitating stroke in 1995. He inherited a country with growing unemployment, discontent from its populace due to falling living standards, and, most recently, an increasing and alarming level of terrorism. In response, he has largely balanced conservative and reform-minded pressures within the Saudi population and leadership by following a measured agenda focused on increasing political and civil liberties without upsetting the traditional Wahhabists. Known as a reformist himself, Abdullah also enjoys a reputation for being traditional, incorruptible, and honest. Crown Prince Abdulla attending a gathering at the Royal Diwan (court) Credit: Anthony Makin
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- Nomad
Bedouin -- or Bedu people, as they are sometimes called -- literally means "the ones who live in the desert." It is estimated that 50 years ago, nearly half of Saudi Arabia's population followed the nomadic way of life of the Bedouin, living in large tents, surrounded by their camels, goats and sheep. Today, the number of truly nomadic people in Saudi Arabia is estimated to be less than 10%, and rapidly decreasing. Many Bedouin, particularly the young, have left their tents in the desert for more modern luxuries and moved to the city. Still, Saudis speak proudly of their roots in the desert, and the traditional qualities of Beduoin hospitality remain an integral part of life in Saudi Arabia. Bedouin tent near Khobar, Saudi Arabia Credit: Wendy Cocker
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- Cosmopolitan
Ar-Riyad (Riyadh), the national capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia, is one of the fastest-growing metropolises in the world. In the past three decades, its population has seen a staggering seven-fold increase, rising to 4.7 million people. Before the 1970s, this city, located in the center of the Arabian Peninsula in the Nejd region, lacked the power and influence of the coastal city of Jeddah. But with the influx of oil money and the refining industry, its skyscrapers and stature grew in tandem. It is now the educational, administrative, financial, and transportation center of Saudi Arabia, spanning some 600 square miles and linked to other Saudi urban areas by a network of highways. Ar-Riyadh, around the Al Faisaliah Centre Credit: Anthony Makin
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- Culture
Saudi Arabia's enduring cultural forms echo its Bedouin past, as seen in the country's national dance, the al ardha. In this ritual sword dance men carrying swords or knives dance in formation as a poet sings verses or a narrator speaks, accompanied by a drummer. Saudi Arabian dress, composed predominantly of loose, flowing garments, reflects both Islam's emphasis on modesty, as well as the practicalities of life in a hot and windswept land. Men usually wear a thawb (a simple, ankle-length shirt of wool or cotto) and a ghutra (a large, folded cotton square) upon the head. While traditional women's clothes display regional and tribal designs, colorful fabric, and metal adornment, when they leave the house, Saudi women must wear a black cloak and veil (abaya) covering them from head to toe. The Ardha performed in Najran, Southern Saudi Arabia Credit: Anthony Makin
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- Economy
From the initial discovery of commercial quantities in 1938, oil has transformed Saudi Arabia. Originally a nomadic society primarily based on agriculture and commerce, the country has ridden the oil economy for much of this century, urbanizing rapidly as it grew into the world's leading oil producer and exporter. Saudi oil -- all but 5% of which is produced by the government controlled oil company Aramco -- now accounts for more than 90% of the country's exports, 75% of government revenues and 55% of the gross domestic product. Oil has also funded a broader transformation of society, supporting the development of Saudi cultural institutions, expanding social services, and building roads and schools, telecommunications, and other services. Saudi oil rig Credit: Wendy Cocker
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- Local
While oil has brought many Saudis great wealth, economists are concerned about the long-term effects of the country's dependence on these revenues. Long-term predictions of oil production are notoriously problematic, and the Saudi officials tend to reveal little about their country's total resources. Still, analysts expect Saudi production to peak in the early 21st century and decline thereafter. Meanwhile, significant population growth -- more than doubling from 10 million in 1980 to 24 million in 2003 -- has meant that limited oil revenues must be spread ever more thinly among the population. To meet these concerns, the Saudi government has allocated some of the nation's oil revenue to diversify the economy and develop other, sometimes more traditional, industries. Saudi investment thus far has focused on agriculture, fishing and other industries including iron and steel, construction materials, food processing, chemicals, and metal fabrication. Fishermen, Qatif region Credit: Wendy Cocker
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- Foreign
Experts estimate that Saudi Arabia employs as many as five to six million foreign workers -- between one-third and two-thirds of all jobs nationwide. These immigrants range from very poor Sri Lankans working as housecleaners and drivers, to highly-skilled American technicians. The economy's reliance upon foreigners, however, has developed in stark tension with a theocratic society hostile to non-Islamic, foreign and modernizing influences. Experts widely agree that recent bombings, beheadings, and other gruesome, highly visible terror attacks have targeted foreign workers in an attempt to drive non-Saudis out and prevent new arrivals. While Westerners tend to be well-paid and live in relatively luxurious compounds, low-wage immigrant laborers from poorer countries may suffer years of maltreatment. Saudi Aramco Compound at Dhahran Credit: Wendy Cocker
